Environmentalists start pledge against using FirstEnergy for power

COLUMBUS -- Environmental advocates are urging Ohio consumers to pick power options other than FirstEnergy in a dispute over clean energy standards.

The Ohio Sierra Club plans to canvass neighborhoods, post billboards and online advertisements, send mailers to Ohioans and ask supporters to sign a pledge against the energy company.

"The pledge is to not choose FirstEnergy Solutions as their electric provider until FirstEnergy stops attacking energy efficiency and renewable energy in Ohio and commits to creating significant carbon reduction by investing in local clean energy and energy efficiency," said Rashay Layman, a Sierra Club organizer, during a press conference at the Statehouse Wednesday.

FirstEnergy countered that it has taken steps to promote energy efficiency.

"FirstEnergy is successfully meeting the state's energy efficiency targets, and our customer programs are working," spokesman Doug Colafella said in a released statement. "A good example is our energy efficiency kits. As of last week, about 150,000 of our customers have requested a kit and as a result, they are reducing their monthly electric bills. So it's a shame this campaign could mislead customers into potentially missing out on an opportunity to reduce their bills further by switching to FirstEnergy Solutions. We're helping millions of Ohio customers save on their energy bill through discounted electricity supply."

The Sierra Club is citing August orders from the Public Utilities Commission for FirstEnergy to credit more than $43 million to customers for overcharging them for renewable energy credits. FirstEnergy disputes that finding, and PUCO has agreed to a rehearing.

Tom Collins, a Sierra Club volunteer from Garrettsville, is among those who signed the group's pledge against FirstEnergy, saying the company should be doing more to promote energy efficiency.

"Energy efficiency is key to clean, safe and affordable energy for all Ohio families," said Collins, who said he has been able to more than halve his household energy bills by upgrading insulation, changing lights and making other improvements to reduce energy usage.

He added, "Energy efficiency is our cheapest resource that we have, and my efficiency means that we reduce the need for fossil fueling all over the state and reduce our pollution to our water and our air."

Marc Kovac is the Dix Capital Bureau Chief. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.